It can be argued that Hamish Marshall has been a talent wasted. A stylish middle-order batsman, he played 13 Tests and 66 ODIs for New Zealand and made three centuries. But turned his back on international cricket in 2007-08 to play county cricket for Gloucestershire and spent 11 seasons in the West Country before returning home to play for Wellington, at 37, the city in which his career had begun. He enjoyed a steady county career without lighting up the English game that his early promise suggested was possible.

The 146 he made against Australia in March 2005 proved the high point in his career, not the beginning of greatness some foresaw. He was unshakable against the pace of the mighty Australians at their peak. Another big hundred followed against Sri Lanka and a year later he was signed by Gloucestershire as their overseas player. The cosy life in county cricket proved too attractive and Marshall rejected a central contract for 2007-08, eventually becoming a home-qualified player for Gloucestershire via an Irish passport.

It was a disappointment for New Zealand, who first picked Marshall in December 2000 for a Test debut against South Africa. Batting at No. 7 he made an unbeaten 40, showing great maturity and promise. But he was not picked again and had to wait for another three years to get his chance when he was called up for the one-day series in Pakistan in 2003-04. In his third game, he scored an impressive 101 not out in Faisalabad, and later scored 64 and 84 to help New Zealand win the corresponding home series. He then helped New Zealand to win the 2003-04 home one-day series against South Africa, and was called up for the 2004 NatWest Series in England, scoring 75 not out and 55 in the group matches before a solid 44 saw New Zealand win the final against West Indies.

Marshall struggled to hold down a place in New Zealand's ODI side through 2006-07 and although he was not picked in the World Cup squad, he later joined the team as a replacement when Lou Vincent broke his wrist. Marshall played three games in the Caribbean but then sprung a surprise by refusing a national contract.

His career with Gloucestershire began as an overseas player in 2006 where he scored 102 against Worcestershire on début and finished the season with 1218 runs at 60.90. That year he also made his highest score for the county, 168 against Leicestershire at Cheltenham. But since making the move permanent he has failed to match that mark and suffered a torrid 2011 season, making only 401 runs in 19 innings. He bounced back to an extent with his first century for three years in 2012 and managed to average 37.36 in a horrendously wet season. He, like many, found the going far easier in 2013 and made over 1000 runs in a season for just the second time in his career, including four centuries, but slipped back in the following season.

The arrival of Richard Dawson as coach was good for him, evidenced by his four Championship hundreds in his farewell Championship summer in 2016. He ended 11 seasons emotionally with a pugnacious 70-odd at Bristol, boosting his career tally to 14,286 runs including 30 centuries.

His undoubted highlight in limited-overs cricket was winning the Royal London Cup final against Surrey in 2015, Gloucestershire's first trophy in over a decade. In 2011, along with Kevin O'Brien, he played in the first T20 innings where two players scored centuries; Gloucestershire's 254 for 3 against Middlesex at Uxbridge broke the domestic T20 world record.

Marshall also played in the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008 for the Royal Bengal Tigers. His twin brother James has also played for New Zealand.
ESPNcricinfo staff

ABOUT COOKIES

We use cookies to help make this website better, to improve our services and for advertising purposes. You can learn more about our use of cookies and change your browser settings in order to avoid cookies by clicking here. Otherwise, we'll assume you are OK to continue.